Combination plug-switch.



Patented Mar. ll, I902.- J. I. AYEB.

COMBINATION PLUG SWITCH.

(Application filed Sept. 20, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

No. 695,366. Patented Mar. ll, I902.

Y J. l. AYER.

COMBINATION PLUG SWITCH.

A limion filed lcpt. 20, 1901 2 Shoats-Shaet 2.

(No Model.)

Pumau ma, WASHINGTON, n c

Unrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES l. AYER, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE SIMFLEX ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MltSSACl-IUSE'ITS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

COMBINATION PLUG-SWITCH.

SPEGIFEUATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 695,366, dated March 11, 1902.

Application filed September 20, 1901. Serial No. 75,901. (No model.)

To a. whom if many concern.-

Be it known that 1, JAMES I. AYER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Malden, county of ltliddlesex, State of Massachusetts,

have invented an Improvement in Combination PlugSwitches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention is an improvement in that class of electric switches in which the circuit is completed by inserting a removable plug into a socket, the latter being usually secured to the wall or other fixed object and IS the plug connected with the electric heater or other apparatus or machine operated by current derived through the plug-switch.

By myinvention, the constructional details of which and the operation thereof will be presently explained, the circuitchanging feature is contained entirely in the plug,thereby making it practicable to use the same wallsocket for either sim ple or complex apparatus, as the differences of circuit arrangement are confined wholly to the plug.

Another prominent feature of my invention resides in the provision of means for preventing the switching of current from one circuit of the plug to another when the current is on,

or, in other words, before the plug can be operated to change its circuits it must be so moved as to break contact with the live wire of the socket. This feature permits the terminals in the plug to be at short intervals and to be shifted from one circuit to another with very little movement, otherwise impossible because of the destructive arcing if the current were on.

In carrying out the latter feature of my in- 0 vention i provide a special compact construe tion which gives ei'l'ective insulation when the parts are in operative position, and I guard against any possible mistake by providing a positive lock which requires that the parts 5 must be placed in correct position before eonnection can be made with the main current or live circuit.

invention also involves various other novel features relating more particularly to details of construction, all. of which will be more fully explained in the following description, reference being had to the accompanying d ran-'ings, in which I have shown one preferred embodimentof my invention, and the lat-tor will he further defined in the appended claims, also forming a part of this speeification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central transverse section of a wall-socket, showing in side elevation a plug in operative position. Fig. 2 is a top plan view 01' the socket. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the plug. Fig. 4: is an enlarged vertical sectional View through the plug, taken on the linet 4, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a similar sectional view taken on the line 5 5, Fig. i. Fig. 6 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on the irregular line (3 6, Fig. 1-. Figs.

7 to 10 illustrate diagrammatically various combinations made possible in connection with one arrangement of wiring.

The socket or wall piece A may be of any convenient shape and construction, being herein shown as comprising a body part or back portion CL and acap or front part ct, the latter having a rectangular opening a and the former having a recess a enlarged at its central part a to receive my special plug 0 and at its sides containing opposite contact-jaws Z).

The plug C comprises three main parts-a So socket-piece or contact part c, constituting a handle, a movable part c,carrying the various contact-makers of the switch, and a guard or locking device 0 The movable part c is provided with as many contact-makers as are re- 8 5 quired for the special wiring and combinations of the particular switch, there being herein shown three contact-makers e c c for cooperating with the contacts of the part c (although it will be understood, of course, that, if required, these parts may be reversed, the contacts being carried by the part c and the makers by the part c, and various other kinds of contact-makers and contacts may be employed within the spirit of my invention) 5 and opposite contact-plates c c for making contact with the spring-clips Z) l) of the socket A, said plates being electrically connected, as b screws 0, to the contact-1nakers c c, re-

s 'z-ectively, and one of said plates being conrco nected, as shown, by a metal strip 0 to the third contact-maker 0 all these parts being mounted in an insulating su pport or block 0 Taken in its broader aspect, my invention includes any form of electrical make-andbreak .connection between the movable and fixed. part of the plug; but in its more limited features I prefer the forms shown, in which the partc has three tubular-contacts c e 0 (an idle hole 0 being indicated to permit the changes in rotation reqnired,) split part way down, as indicated at d to give freedom of action,and preferablysecured by pins c ,passing through them and through an insulatingblock o in which they are mounted loosely,

, to the contacts in suitable manner, as by setscrews c let into the insulating-block c", as indicated at 0 there being a looseness sufficient to permit the self-alining action,already explained, to take place, and the said wires pass out through an opening 0 in a cap-piece 0 secured to the insulating-block c by one or more screws 0 The guard or locking feature, already men tioned, which serves to lock the parts in place,

so that it is impossible to-use the switch un less it is in absolutely proper condition, is herein shown as consisting of a lock or guard c in the form of a transverse bar pivotally.

supported on a bolt 0 secured at e to the .block 0", said bar 0 when in locked position being turned lengthwise of the insulatingblock 0 and when in unlocked position being turned at right angles thereto in alinement with a transverse slot or recess a in the movable block 0 the latter being normally held downwardly toward the part c by a spring 0, contained in a cavity of the movable block. It will thus be seen that the connections cannot be switched or relatively ro-.

tated on the bolt 0 unless the bar 0 has first been turned into the position shown in Fig. 5 to permit the separation of the contact-maker carrier 0 from the socket-piece or contact part c, as shown in Fig. 5, and also before the lock 0 can be placed in this position the plug 0 must first be withdrawn from the wallsocket A, thereby absolutely severing connection with the feed-current. This simple provision therefore makes danger impossible, as no switching of any kind can possibly be effected without first removing the plug from connection with the live feed-wi re. Then unlocking the'switehing connections, so that they can be operated to shift the circuits, and

cannot be inserted in the wall-socket, and, on

the other hand, when once placed in working position in the wall-socket the lock 0 is in such a position that it cannot possibly be tampered with.

that my invention renders it impossible for even the most ignorant and unskilled user of the apparatus toget any. injuryto himself from an improper adjustment of the parts, (because if improperly adjusted they cannot possibly be connected with the live current,) and, on the other hand, -for the same reason it is impossible for him to burn out or injure the instrument by careless or ignorant manipulation.

The complete embodiment of my invention,

as shown and described, contains all the elements which go to make up extreme safety, compactness, simplicity, and durability, and this is; therefore my preferred embodiment of the invention; but it will be-obscrved that certain of the appended claims refer to parts only of the device, and the claims are also of diiferent scope or breadth, as my invention is not limited to the precise details excepting as required by the claims; but various modifications in arrangement, combination, and operation of parts may be resorted to without departing from my invention,-whi'ch is not limited otherwise than as expressed in the claims. 1

I regard it as broadly new to provide i-na compound plug-switch means forpreventing the shifting of the switch or changing the contact connections for different combinations while the main supply-current is in active circuit therewith, and I intend to claim the same, broadly; also, I intend similarly to claim, broadly, the provision of means for preventing the operative coupling of the plug and socket unless the circuit-chan gin g mechanism is in proper-working position, andso likewise as to the positive lock, which renders the circuit-changing mechanism inoperative when the plug and socket are in condition to cooperate, and similarly in regard'to having the plug itself provided with the circuit-changing connections fora plurality of circuit wires, so that said connections may be shifted for different combinations. As to-this last feature, besides the advantages already pointedout, there is the further advantage thatit removes all complications from the wall-socket, so that the same wall-socket can be used either for simple or complex apparatus.

From the above explanation it will be seen By the term look I mean any mechanism that positively retains the switching mechanism in working position-2'. 6., in proper condition for the normal passage of current.

I have omitted showing the wiring for the various combinations which are made possible by my invention, as this is more a matter relating to the wiring of the electric heater or other device with which the plug-switch may be used and also as it depends upon the number of contacts or connections which may be contained in the plug-switch, (or, as specifically herein shown and preferred, carried by the relatively movable parts of the plug itself,) three connections or contacts being herein shown, although more or less may be employed, according to anygiven requirements, and the wiring maybe such in relation to said connections that the combina tions may include a single, multiple, or series circuit and may include different wiriugs or different resistances as well, all of which will be rcadilyapparcnt to those skilled in the art. For example, as applied to heaters, one advantageous arrangement of wiring is shown in Figs. '7 to 10, where X indicates the wire which is common to the lower resistance R of the circuit L and the higher resistance R of the circuit M. 'Wheu the parts are coupled in the position shown in Fig. '7, the circuits are in multiple for giving high heating results, and when in the position shown in Fig. 8 the resistances are in series, and in Fig. 9 the resistance Ris out, and in Fig. 10 there is no heating effect.

IIaving described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a compound plug-switch, a plug and its socket, one containing switching or circuitchanging mechanism, and means for preventing the shifting of the said circuit-changing mechanism while in circuit with the supplycurrent.

2. In a compound plug-switch, a plug and its socket, and a lock preventing the shifting of the circuit-changing mechanism when the plug and socket are in condition to cooperate.

3. In a compound plug-switch, a plug and its socket, and mechanism for preventing the operative coupling of the plug and socket unless the circuit-changing mechanism is in proper working position.

a. In a compound plug-switch, a plug and its socket, one containing circuit-changing mechanism for forming different combinations of circuits, said switch having a lock for preventing the shifting of the said circuitchanging mechanism, said lock being accessible only when the plug and socket are in inoperative position.

5. In a compound plug-switch, a plug having a movable part, and a relatively stationary part, one containing a plurality of contacts and the other containing a plurality of contact-makers.

6. In a compound plug-switch, a plug containing connected insulating-supports capable of a limited movement toward and from each other, and provided in their abutting ends with closely-arranged, cooperatingtubular and pin-like contacts and contact-makers.

7. In a compound plug-switch, a plug containing connected insulating-supports capable of a limited movement toward and from each other, and provided in their abutting ends with closely-arranged,cooperating,tubular and pin-like contacts and contact-makers, and provided with locking means maintaining them in closed position when in service.

8. A compound switch, containing a movable part and relatively stationary part pivotally connected, one part being included in a main feed-circuit, said two parts containing means for varying the distribution of the feed-current for different effective results, said means comprising a plurality of contacts in one part and a plurality of contact-makers in the other part arranged to cooperate successively in different combinations, one of said pluralities being connected with the feedcircuit and the other provided with a plurality of distributing-wires.

9. In a compound plugswitch, a plug, and its socket, said socket containing two contacts for connecting said plug with the feedwire or service-line, and said plug containing circuit-changing mechanism for shifting the feed-current to different combinations.

10. In a compound plug-switch, a plug containing two permanentlyconnected parts, said parts containing a plurality of complementary switching devices and being capable of separation a distance sufficient only for permitting the shifting of said switching devices for making different combinations, and means for preventing the separation of said parts when the plug is in circuit with the feed-wire, thereby permitting a change of circuits with short distances apart of contacts without danger of arcing.

11. In a compound plug-switch, a plug having relatively movable parts, one containing a set of projecting contact-makers and the other containing a set of socket-like contacts to receive said contact-makers, one of said sets being loosely mounted in slightly-larger cavities, leaving room for slight movement for automatically alining the respective contacts and contact-makers when moved into working position.

12. In a compound plug-switch, a plug having two parts movable toward and from each other and pivotally connected, one part being provided with a set of projecting contactmakers, and the other containing a set of socket-like contacts concentrically arranged, one of said sets being loosely mounted in slightly larger cavities, leaving room for slight movement for automatically alining the respective contacts and contact-makers when moved into working position.

13. In a compound plug-switch, a plug having two parts movable toward and from each IIO other and pivotally connected, one part being provided with a set of projecting contactmakers, and the other containing a set of socket-like contacts concentrically arranged, said contacts being pivotally mounted in recesses, permitting them to swing slightly for automatic alinement with the contact-makers to whatever position the latter may be rotated.

14. In a compound plug-switch, a plug having two parts movable toward and from each other and pivotally connected, one part being provided with a set of projecting contactmakers, and the other containing a set of socket-like contacts concentrically arranged, said contacts being pivotally mounted in recesses, permitting them to swing slightly for automatic alinement with the contact-makers to whatever position the latter may be rotated, said contacts carrying binding-screws mounted therein independently of the part supporting the contacts.

15. A compound plug-switch, comprising two parts movable toward and from each other and centrally connected by a pivot, a spring surrounding said pivot, and acting to move said parts toward each other. r

16. A compound plug-switch, comprising two parts movable toward and from each other and centrally connected by a pivot, a spring surrounding said pivot, and acting to move said parts toward each other, each part having complementary portions of a plurality of circuit-changing devices.

17. A compound plugswitch comprising two parts movable toward and from each other and centrally connected by a pivot, a spring surroundingsaid pivot and acting to move said parts toward each other, each part having complementary portions of a plurality of circuit-changing devices, and a lock connected to one of said parts to engage the other and lock the two together when the circuit-changing devices are in closed position.

18. In a compound plug-switch, a socket, a plug composed of relatively movable parts pivotally connected and each containing 0001-. plementary portions of a series of circuitchanging devices, a spring surrounding the pivot for moving the parts toward each other, said spring being located in the end of the plug next to the socket when the parts are in operative position.

19. In acompound plug-switch, two parts movable toward and from each other and centrally connected by a pivot, a spring surroundv said spring on said pivot, to turn into locking engagement with the adjacent movable part when the circuit-changing devices are in closed position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAS. I. AYER. Witnesses:

GEo. H. MAXWELL, GEo. W. GREGORY. 

